A convention signed between UCLouvain and Wallonia, as part of the upgrading of accredited animal facilities, has enabled the ANCA platform to acquire new equipment to improve the welfare of the animals and their health status.
The ANCA technology platform is an animal facility equipped for the housing, breeding and experimentation of rodents and fish. It houses mainly experimental animals used for research, as well as a few animals used for teaching purposes. The rodent area has always been equipped with conventional open cages for housing rodents, and the logistics have hardly evolved since it opened.
Pending the construction of a new facility, equipment has just been installed in the existing animal house. It mainly consists of :
- racks for individually ventilated and filter-protected cages,
- laminar flow hoods to ensure a sanitary barrier when providing basic animal care
- other equipment, such as a cage-washer and sanitary barriers, to enhance health status.
In addition, improvements to the washing premises and logistical facilities will enhance the well-being of staff working on the platform.
Thanks to this convention and these new equipment, in addition of the new aquariums for fish housing that were acquired in spring 2023, our platform can now meet the highest housing standards, complying with the new constraints both for animal welfare and for that of its staff.
The next stage, which has just started, is the construction of a brand new building to house the platform... We'll be back to update you on this project in 2024.
Picture credit : Françoise Gofflot